How to Create a Brush in Photoshop
Objective:
 Learn how to create a brush in Photoshop through a simple process to quickly populate your drawings! The process of depicting how to create a brush in Photoshop is simple and quick.
You can create a custom brush in Photoshop from an image or a silhouette.
Software Used:
Step 01
Here are the cutouts I’d like to turn into a brush.Â
They are all separated into their own layers, but it is not necessary
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-1-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-1-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-1-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 02
I’m going to add a black fill to them with the Paint Bucket Tool by creating a new layer, then holding the ALT key, and clicking on the layer to create a clipping mask.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-2-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-2-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-2-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 03
Continue the process for all the objects that will be turned into a brush.Â
Quick Tip: Use the CTRL+J to quickly duplicate a layer.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-3-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-3-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-3-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 04
After all the cutouts have had a fill added, merge the black fill layers with the original cutout layers to become one layer.Â
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-4-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-4-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-4-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 05
Use the Selection Marquee Tool to select the area of your cutout.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-5-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-5-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-5-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 06
Go to the Edit Menu and click on Define Brush Preset. In the pop-up menu name your brush and click OK.Â
You have now created a new brush!
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-6-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-6-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-6-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 07
Continue this process for all your cutouts
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-7-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-7-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-7-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 08
Let’s test out the brushes now!Â
Go to your Brush Tool menu and choose one of the brushes you have just created.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-8-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-8-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-8-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 09
You can see it works perfectly and you can quickly use it to populate your drawing.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-9-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-9-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-9-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 10
Go to the Window Menu and click on Brush Settings.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-10-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-10-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-10-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 11
Let’s create a scattering brush effect.Â
Make sure to have Smoothing, Shape Dynamic and Scattering selected.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-11-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-11-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-11-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 12
These are the settings I used –
Scattering – Set the scatter to 1,000%, Count to 1, and Count Jitter to 100%. Make sure to set the scatter to both axes.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-12-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-12-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-12-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 13
Under Shape Dynamics – If you are creating a cutout that can be seen from the plan.Â
You can click on angle jitter to create more variation. For this click on Flip X Jitter to create more variation within your drawing.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-13-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-13-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-13-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 14
Now your brush can add multiple silhouette that you created, helping you achieve the effect you are after more quickly.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-14-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-14-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-14-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 15
Let’s try the technique on a drawing.
Here I have the image of a simple axon that I will like to populate with the silhouettes of people.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-15-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-15-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-15-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 16
Choose a brush and set the settings we previously covered. Then set a size for your brush.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-16-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-16-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-16-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 17
Begin using the brush on your drawing.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-17-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-17-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-17-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 18
You can see how effectively this works.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-18-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-18-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-18-2-scaled.jpg)
Step 19
After you have used your brushes you can make any movement adjustments – Erase any cutouts that fall out of the area where they should be.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-19-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-19-1-scaled.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20-19-2-scaled.jpg)